Chicken and Corn Enchilada Casserole

I don’t know where to start with this post. I’m at a loss. There are just SO many delicious and amazing things happening with this chicken and corn enchilada casserole! I’m simultaneously torn between figuring out what to write about first, and wondering if I should go to the grocery store in the middle of this snow storm to get the ingredients to make it again RIGHT NOW. At 7 in the morning. Because we ate all of it, and this makes me sad.

It’s just so, so, amazingly tasty and comforting. And it’s SO easy, it’s freezable, and it makes for great leftovers. It’s perfection!

Even though I am sad that our enchilada casserole is no more, I am VERY happy about a few things. First of all, Zach and I are hunkering down all day today because of the snow. Which means making banana pancakes and bacon for breakfast, experimental cooking and working on the blog, and playing with my NEW CAMERA LENS!

I foresee many more photographs of Oscar happening today…

Isn’t he handsome?

As an early birthday present (I’m turning the big 3-0 in February!), I got a Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Lens to go with my Canon EOS Rebel and I am so happy with it. Finally, I can take those fancy food photographs with a shallow depth of field (you know, those ones that are super close up and blurry in the background)! For all you bloggers/amateur food photographers out there who aren’t ready to spend thousands of dollars on a super fancy camera, I highly recommend these. They’re moderately priced and take excellent photos. Now, if only the winter would end so I could actually shoot photographs with natural light…

OK, enough blabbering about non-casserole related things. I’ve thought about it, and I’ve decided that I’ll start with how easy this is to make. First of all, it uses only six ingredients: enchilada sauce(I make my own and freeze it in bulk), corn tortillas, frozen corn, green onions, chicken (I used my smoky Mexican pulled chicken, my go-to for Mexican chicken recipes, but you can use leftovers from roast chicken or any other kind you want), and cheese. That’s it! And, as if chicken enchiladas weren’t easy enough, an enchilada casserole requires no tortilla rolling, which can take some finesse. This casserole is layered much like a lasagna, but instead of cooked noodles, you use corn tortillas! Easy peasy.

Just start with sauce, then tortillas, then corn and scallions, then chicken, sauce, and cheese. Repeat and bake. Done. The hardest part about this is waiting until it is finished baking to eat it.

The texture and flavor of this casserole is simple but delicious. The corn tortillas don’t hold up to the baking- they kind of dissolve into the casserole, which is a good thing! They form these layers of delicious, creamy corn flavor that you get with every bite (kind of like a tamale), in addition to the whole corn kernels. The green onions add a subtle savoriness to the casserole, and the chicken stays moist and delicious, soaking in the flavors of the sauce and onions and corn. With melty cheese on every bite, there really is nothing better. It’s comfort food at it’s finest.

Add ½ of the frozen corn, topped with ⅓ of the scallions, then ½ of the chicken, and ½ of the cheese.

Repeat layers starting with the remaining tortillas, and ending with the remaining cheese.

Bake for 20 minutes, or until heated through and beginning to brown on top.

Top with remaining scallions.

Notes

Vegetarian? I recommend substituting seasoned black beans and sweet potatoes for the chicken.Make ahead- assemble ahead of time and refrigerate for up to 3 days until you are ready to bake.Freeze assembled casserole for up to 6 months in an airtight baking dish. Defrost in refrigerator for 24 hours before baking.

I wouldn’t omit it as an ingredient, since it’s what binds everything together, but you can definitely buy or make a vegan cheese, which would be dairy free, that gets the same “melty” affect as regular cheese! (here’s a recipe that calls for vegan cheddar and monterey jack cheese… you can almost definitely find them at whole foods: http://thechocolateloaf.com/vegan-cheese-enchiladas/)

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Comment

Name *

Email *

Website

Rate this recipe:

Hello! Welcome to Bowl of Delicious!

I'm Elizabeth, nice to meet you! I live in central Texas with my husband Zach, two kitties (Oscar and Olive), and a baby on the way. My recipes are made from whole ingredients and are freezer friendly, make-ahead, slow cooker, and/or quick & easy. My philosophy is that that eating and cooking should relieve the stress of a busy lifestyle, not contribute to it, and that you can eat healthy, whole foods without making yourself crazy. Learn more!

Stay Connected

Trending Posts on Bowl of Delicious

Hello! I’m so glad you’re here.

I'm Elizabeth, nice to meet you! I live in central Texas with my husband Zach, two kitties (Oscar and Olive), and a baby on the way. My recipes are made from whole ingredients and are freezer friendly, make-ahead, slow cooker, and/or quick & easy. My philosophy is that that eating and cooking should relieve the stress of a busy lifestyle, not contribute to it, and that you can eat healthy, whole foods without making yourself crazy. learn more!

stay connected!

Affiliate Disclaimer:

Bowl of Delicious is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com for products I highly recommend (as well as other affiliate companies). If you purchase any item from Amazon by clicking to their site via the affiliate link, it will cost the same to you, but I will receive a small commission. Your purchase helps support Bowl of Delicious and is much appreciated! :-)